| About JCMS - San Diego Landscaping |
In this issue |
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JCMS Landscaping is a provider of professional landscaping services in San Diego, we strive to make San Diego a beautiful place by doing business with integrity and creativity. JCMS Landscaping is family owned and operated company and the owners have over 40 years experience in the landscape industry.
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The Water Issue Revisited
Spring Garden Tips
Meet JCMS Landscaping - Les McDaniel
Company News
Featured Projects
In the next issue
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| Featured Article: PART III "Is your Landscape Company 'Green'?" |
JCMS Landscaping is committed to doing its part to help the environment. This is the third newsletter in a series of tips and ideas to bring awareness and action into our lives.
Being Green is not just limited to hybrids and recycling; being environmentally responsible means living a life of sustainability and integrity with the Earth. This means we all have to look at every aspect of our lives and take inventory on what we can change. This series will focus on aspects related to landscaping but the principles can be applied everywhere.
Issue # 3 - The Water Issue Revisited
The first Newsletter focused on irrigation and water conservation but with summer approaching, mandatory water rationing and water prices going up, I thought we should discuss this again. There are many options and ideas out there for water conservation and JCMS Landscaping is ready to help our clients save money and water wherever possible. Again, I believe water conservation begins with a willingness to change, we don't necessarily have to give up beautiful landscapes, but we have to re-define what a beautiful landscape is, what its functionality is. Here are a few tips and ideas to get started:
- Xeriscape, Drought Tolerant and Native Plants - consider getting rid of that unused front lawn, or all lawns if possible. I think there is a place for lawns in a landscape, they just need to be placed in the right spot, be used enough to justify them and not take up entire yards. Lawns use the most water out of any landscape feature and waste the most due to run-off and bad sprinkler design. We can design and install a gorgeous landscape, full of life and color that defies the old preconceived notion of pink gravel that permeates Southern California. With xeriscaping, less money is spent on water, fertilizer and maintenance, less water is wasted, less weeds and chemicals, and less material ends up in landfills or city composts.
- ET Controllers "Evapo-Transpiration" - there are many out there now, some good, some bad; it really depends on the landscape, the programmer and the owners knowledge. JCMS Landscaping can help pick out the right one, help you receive rebates from the water department and even train you to understand how it works. In most cases landscapes are over watered in the winter and under watered in the summer, causing run-off and plant shock, but a very consistent water bill, understanding that your water bill should be higher in the summer and lower in the winter is one of those perceptions we need to accept. A properly watered landscape should save you enough money to justify the purchase of a 'Smart Clock' and will keep your plants healthier.
- Sprinklers - Have you checked for leaks, breaks, overspray, run-times for run-off, correct programming for plant and sprinkler type, or pressure for optimizing spray patterns? Are the sprinklers covering effectively, are they too deep or leaning to one the side or forward? Are the nozzles properly adjusted, clogged, the correct nozzle for the job, worn out or wrong sprinkler head? Your irrigation should be checked regularly for all these problems and more to be as efficient as possible. There are other options like switching to Rotator type sprinklers or drip systems. JCMS can design, repair, install and troubleshoot most irrigation systems to make them as efficient as possible.
Links for information regarding water and irrigation:
http://www.clcasandiego.org/
http://www.20gallonchallenge.com/
http://www.bewaterwise.com/
http://www.sdcwa.org/
http://www.sandiego.gov/
http://www.thegarden.org/
Spring Garden Tips
- Fertilize, Aerate and Compost
- Check irrigation system
- Weed control - try organic gardening
- Watch out for pests like aphids - take preventative measures
- Time to plant seeds, bulbs, vegetables and ornamentals
- Reseed lawns
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| Employee Spotlight - Les McDaniel |
Les McDaniel has been with JCMS Landscaping for the last 3 years, he is the Maintenance Operations Supervisor, but does a whole lot more as you may know. He is our in-house arborist and plant specialist as well as a pretty smart irrigation expert. Les has been in the Landscaping field many years, has quite a few certifications, licenses and accolades, including but not limited to:
CA Certified Tree Arborist
CA DPR Qualified Applicators License, and Pest Control Advisor
BS Degree in Plant Soil Science
Smart Irrigation certification for Hunter, Smartline, CalSense
Reclaimed Water Certification
Les McDaniel has a passion and love of plants that is necessary in this business. Les brings a lifetime of knowledge to JCMS Landscaping and we appreciate everything he does for the company and our clients.
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| Company News |
SPRING HOME AND GARDEN SHOW A SUCCESS
The 2009 Del Mar Home and Garden Show was a success. JCMS Landscaping installed the front entry garden displaying the design skills of our own Steve Harbour. The plant list was a mix drought tolerant, native and Mediterranean with a Decomposed Granite pathway, rock and sculptures. Many guests of the exhibit were intrigued by the beautiful selection of plants, which is available by email if you would like to see it.
Pictures of the entry garden are available on our website under our Portfolio.
WATER MANAGER
Jesse Cryns finishes the CLCA Water Management Certification Program and is now a certified Water Manager!
Let JCMS Landscaping set water budgets and watch the savings
See details of program at http://www.clca.us/
*must enroll in water audit and budgeting program
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| Featured Projects |
Featured Projects - Please see our portfolio for full set of pictures (click here).
Mann Residence - Design by Meg Heubach
A contemporary design with a Mediterranean feel, this La Jolla project was a complete makeover in the backyard.
Features: Spa, arbors, Fire pit, BBQ with poured concrete top, colored and acid washed concrete with ¼" saw cuts, Unique Low-Voltage lighting, Hunter irrigation.
Rebel Residence - Design by Steve Letz
This ranch style house in the Santa Luz/Del Sur area of Carmel Valley has a drought tolerant theme in plant choice.
Features: BBQ with tile top, Fire pit, Step Stone wall caps, El Dorado Veneer, Unique Low-Voltage Lighting, Interlocking Concrete Pavers, Hunter Irrigation
In the Next Issue
The next issue will focus on actions we can take to be environmentally conscience as individuals, companies and societies. I have a small landscape experiment I started in my own yard that does not include machines, chemicals or petroleum but it features water saving, growing food, natural fertilizer and composting.
I encourage any feedback, ideas and your input for this experiment or any action in the world that is related to the 'Green' Movement, as I hope eventually this will be a new service and approach offered by JCMS Landscaping.
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| Get An Estimate... |
From residential to large commercial projects, JCMS Landscaping covers the San Diego area...
 Give us call today at 858.569.4199 to dicuss your landscaping needs. JCMS Landscaping are proud members of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA), San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB), San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Symbiot Landscape Network, American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) and the Pesticide Applicators Professional Association (PAPA).
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